The outbreak of cases and the rising trend of hospitalizations observed in recent days, bring new measures for the pandemic, with the government, however, rejecting the scenario of a new horizontal lockdown. At a time when the major European countries, one after the other, decide the normal return of students to schools in Cyprus, just five days before the planned opening of schools, there is still a backlog. However, at yesterday's meeting of the Advisory Scientific Committee (SCC) chaired by the President, suggestions were made by experts, as students return to schools normally, adhering to the existing protocol and health measures.
2 rapid per week
Specifically, the TEU suggested that all independent students (vaccinated or unvaccinated), one day before their return, on Sunday, take a self or rapid test. At the same time, in the first week everyone will undergo 3 rapid tests and in the remaining weeks everyone will undergo two rapid tests for free. The same goes for teachers. It is emphasized that in order to close a department and transfer it to distance education, half of the students in the department plus one must be ill at the same time. According to the experts, the continuous rapid tests will be able to shield the student community, since the cases will be detected faster. It is pointed out that the final decision will be taken today, at the Council of Ministers.
Bell for understaffing
However, both organized primary school parents and educational organizations say they are ready to listen and implement the recommendations of the experts, but the bell rings at the Ministry of Education, in order to take immediate measures to prevent any understaffing of schools by teachers, and that at the same time they will ensure the smooth operation of the schools. In fact, the president of POED, Mr. Myria Vassiliou, in her statements reminded that, before the closing of the schools for the Christmas holidays, "there was understaffing of our school units, due to increased needs for replacements, since a number of colleagues were justifiably absent". He added that "the Ministry of Education should proceed with those actions so that there is no re-understaffing of schools, especially now that the need for replacements seems to be increased."
They stay as they are for four months
At the same time, the four-month exams for the Lyceum - which start on January 14 - remain as they are, with the most probable system that will be followed to be the same as that applied to the pan-Cypriot exams (separate rooms for the sick). However, the student organization PSEM is trying until the last moment to postpone the exams, claiming that valuable teaching time of the examinee for the Cypriot material will be lost. It is emphasized that the students have a scheduled meeting with the Minister of Education Prodromos Prodromou, next Monday, the day that the students return to the desks. For his part, the president of OELMEK, Costas Hadjisavvas, in his statements to "P", said that the rapid increase in cases is of particular concern to them, emphasizing that those in charge should finally assume their responsibilities and "announce the their decisions yesterday! " He stressed that, in the last two years, with the pandemic, the absence of a single and stable policy for students - especially seniors, has created a terrible psychological roller coaster for students.
politis.com.cy